Moses

A mysterious character suddenly appears in the neighborhood, and does all he can just to be left alone. On the other hand, a group of feisty teenagers who just won't leave anyone alone. What happens when they encounter their new, loner neighbor?

Moses was not his real name, we gave it to him. He was somewhat mysterious and so was his unannounced appearance in the neighborhood. We woke up one morning to find the long abandoned house occupied by him. His over grown hair and beard made him look like the painting, in our Sunday school book, of Moses holding the Ten Commandments over his head. That was how he had come to be called Moses by the entire neighborhood.

He always avoided people. The shortest way from his house to the market was under the tree where we sat to “kill the day” when we were not at school. Whenever we were under that tree, he would prefer taking the long cut simply to avoid us.

There were four of us, Sam, that’s me, Rufus, Joel and Godwin, our giant. Godwin was the biggest and unquestionably the strongest of us all. Whenever we picked on someone, (and I must say that we did that quite often) and that person wanted to react, the three of us will quickly steal our way behind Godwin while he, fearlessly stood with arms akimbo. Probably it was this defiant posture that almost always perturbed the would-be retaliation. I say almost because some were so angry that they disregarded the posture and retaliated whereupon Godwin almost always soundly subdued them while we jumped around hailing our champion and punching the air.

Once more I said almost because there was one guy, this thin guy who decided to retaliate, despite the clear difference in his and Godwin’s sizes. And we soon understood why. Before we knew it, the tiny feller was in midair landing a kick in Godwin’s chest accompanied by a cat-like screech. Neither Godwin nor we expected that. We had also ventured too close because of the guy’s size. Our giant lost his balance and fell backwards. I being the most timid was quick enough to step aside. The rest went down with Godwin on top of them. Three acts; a leap, a screech and a kick knocked down three persons. That was too much for me. I took to my heels. Then I heard footsteps close behind and accelerated even more. I managed to steal a glance over my shoulder and saw with relief that it was Rufus and Joel who were behind me. Well, you know we were all from Christian homes and knew well the story of David and Goliath. When David brought down Goliath, the rest of the Philistines fled. We did just that.

When we had reached a safe distance we stood and watched Godwin grounded two times, three, four. We lost count. He kept looking for his chance which we thought would never come. But alas, his chance did come. “Little David” sent a backhand slap, which if it had landed would have been the TKO. Fortunately, it did not land because Godwin caught it with a firm grasp and then he pulled the guy to himself and give him an unbrotherly embrace. Godwin squeezed every air out of the little feller until he could not even struggle feebly. Godwin was not through with him. He released him and he just stood staggering. By then we returned and began cheering, “Yeah, come on Godwin, give it to him etc.” Fortunately for the guy, Godwin did not give it to him. Unfortunately for us, Godwin gave it to us. Why had we abandoned him during that critical moment, we paid dearly. We humbly took several slaps and kicks all the while sincerely apologizing.

That day marked a change in our gang. Godwin saw it necessary to acquire some martial art skills. After some months, Godwin asked the three of us to attack him at once. We made perfect guinea pigs. In a few seconds we were either sitting or lying around nursing aching body parts while Godwin stood beaming with joy and shouting, “Whoa, Yeah, now on one’s gonna mess with me.” We straight away headed for our spot under the tree to harass our first new era victim.

Apparently because of our lengthy absence, Moses had made under the tree his regular route. And this morning he did not expect us there and came walking with his head bowed as usual. When he finally spotted us, it was too late to turn back. We noticed that he checked his pace a little but then continued. Upon paralleling us, he passed with a little more velocity. The atmosphere was tense. My heart beat fast and I was sure Rufus’ and Joel’s also did. Godwin made them beat even faster when he spoke.

“I think it’s fair that you greet us, creep,” he said without getting up.

If Moses heard it, he did not show it. He neither slowed nor quickened his pace. He just continued.

But Godwin would not be ignored like that. “Hey man, I’m talking to you, Moses,” he said as he ran past Moses and then turned around to face him. But Moses kept on walking as if Godwin was not even there.

Again Godwin would let Moses know that he was there. He thrust his arm forward and laid a palm on Moses’ chest, forcing him to stop.

Moses slowly lifted his head and stared straight at Godwin. We watched from the back, so we did not know the look in Moses’ eye. We however heard his voice for the first time. It was an ordinary voice, but coming out of Moses made it sound ghostly.

“My name ain’t Moses.”

The look had apparently already paralyzed Godwin. The voice only added to the effect.

Moses took a step backwards and then to the right and walked past Godwin who just stood there, his arm still stretched forward, looking very sheepish. We quietly stared at him. Suddenly, he realized that we were staring at him and became very embarrassed. He turned and shouted at Moses who was now a considerable distance away.

“Alright, if you think you’re a man, then pass this way again and I’ll show you myself, you got that?”

Well, Moses did not pass that way so Godwin did not show him himself. That is until the war reached the city.

***

The morning the rebels attacked and captured our community seemed quiet at first. Then the serenity was suddenly shattered by a prolonged machine gun fire, which to me was quite unnecessary, because the government troops had already left days ago. Then we were ordered to come out of our houses. Everyone came running out. There was already a long queue that we were told to join and follow. Godwin’s father however told us to stick around until the rebels moved on so that we could ride in his pick up.

After what seemed eternity, the rebels finally moved on. Godwin’s father quickly brought the pickup out of the garage and we, from the neighborhood jumped in the back. No one had thought about our loner neighbor until we reached his house. Godwin, Rufus, Joel and I looked at one another with the apparently same question on our minds. Then the car abruptly stopped. We looked out to see why and behold, there was Moses, walking slowly, head bowed, hands clasped behind him, looking either like a philosopher or a composer. No doubt he heard the car stop behind him but he kept on walking until Godwin’s father honked. Then he stopped and turned around, real slowly.

“Care for a ride?” Godwin’s father asked.

Moses slowly nodded and walked to the back of the pickup. When he had climbed on, he crouched just behind the rear windshield. Godwin could have exploded with rage.

Well, if we thought we had gotten away from the rebels, we couldn’t have been more wrong. For after we had driven some distance we came across the first rebel checkpoint and man were they fierce looking. They came towards us, brandishing guns and machetes. One even carried a spear.

“So you are brave enough to drive a car in rebels’ territory,” said the fiercest looking one. “Who are you?”

Godwin’s father seemed not to have an answer.

“Hey CO,” another voice called from the passenger side. “Come and see this government recruit.”

We all turned to see on whose head this huge crime rested. The guy had his finger pointed at Godwin.

“You, come down,” he ordered and this was not Jesus talking to Zacchaeus.

Trembling Godwin made his way down. I must admit that he looked like a real new recruit. He wore khaki trousers, tight black T-shirt and had just gotten a very low haircut.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” the Co said nodding, “a real government recruit.”

“No I’m not,” Godwin said in a shaky voice.

“Shut up,” two of the rebels shouted together.

Then one of them continued. “Aren’t you the one of those who used to ride around the city in trucks chanting, ‘We are the rebel killers, we are the rebel killers?’”

Godwin could only make an innocent gesture and shook his head. I could see that he was not far from tears.

“He’s not a soldier, he’s my son,” it was Godwin’s mother.

“Shut up old ma!”

Old ma yelped.

It was then that Moses joined the fray. This time his manner was not the calm, gentle one he and always displayed. He shot up from his inconspicuous position and bellowed, “As you were?”

The rebels turned and looked at him quizzically.

“Commando,” CO shouted.

“Brave, strong and intelligent,” Moses replied.

“Advance to be recognized,” CO commanded.

Moses jumped down and walked majestically to the rebels. After a brief exchange Moses unbuttoned his shirt and showed them his chest and arms. The rebels suddenly stepped back, knocked their heels together and shouted in unison, “Sir!”

“These are all peaceful people,” Moses said. “I have lived with them for a length of time and know them quite well. Let them go unhindered.”

“Yes Sir,” they shouted.

“But Sir,” CO said, “including the recruit?”

Moses looked at Godwin.

“He’s not a recruit,” he said smiling. “He’s just a quiet kid who will not even harm a fly.” Then he said to Godwin, “Climb on Kid.”

Trembling, Godwin had to be helped by Joel and I who were equally surprised as we were happy.

“I’ll be back,” Moses said to the rebels who responded in their usual fashion and CO ordered, “Drop the gate!”

This time Moses did not crouch, instead he stood straight up, looking forward like an ancient ship captain. Then he ordered, “Drive,” and we were off.

Everyone began hailing Moses “Yeah you did it, we always knew you were a good neighbor etc.”

Then somebody said, “Good ol’ Moses.”

Moses suddenly turned and shot a glance at us. I straightaway knew it was the same look he had given Godwin on that fateful day which had paralyzed him, because we all went silent at once.

Then he said, “My name ain’t Moses.”

~END~